Audio system equalizing

Abstract

Processes and devices for equalizing an audio system that is adapted to use a loudspeaker to transduce test audio signals into test sounds. The processes and devices can involve the use of infrared signals to convey information in one or both directions between the audio system and a portable computer device that captures test sounds, calculates audio parameters that can be used in the equalization process, and transmits these audio parameters back to the audio system for its use in equalizing audio signals that are played by the audio system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a device that is adapted to wirelessly communicate with an audio system and is in audio range of the audio system, wherein the audio system is adapted to transduce test sound excitation signals into test sounds that are received by the device, and wherein the test sound excitation signals are generated by and wirelessly transmitted from an audio signal source to the audio system, causes the device to:
 capture the test sounds; and 
 determine a time delay by correlating the audio signal source with the capture of the test sounds by the device, wherein the time delay is the time from i) the generation of the test sound excitation signals by the audio signal source, ii) the wireless transmission of the test sound excitation signals from the audio signal source to the audio system where the audio signals are transduced into test sounds, and iii) the capture of the test sounds by the device, wherein the time delay includes an unknown radio delay involved in the wireless transmission of the test sound excitation signals from the audio signal source to the audio system. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the computer program product further causes the device to calculate, based on both the captured test sounds and the determined time delay, information that can be used to achieve a desired frequency response from the audio system. 
     
     
       3. The computer program product of  claim 2 , wherein the computer program product further causes the device to transmit the calculated information to the audio system. 
     
     
       4. The computer program product of  claim 2 , wherein the calculated information comprises frequency responses corresponding to the captured test sounds. 
     
     
       5. The computer program product of  claim 2 , wherein the computer program product causes the device to transmit the calculated information to the audio system using infrared signals. 
     
     
       6. The computer program product of  claim 2 , wherein the computer program product causes the device to transmit the calculated information to the audio system using WiFi. 
     
     
       7. The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a smartphone. 
     
     
       8. The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a wireless speaker package. 
     
     
       9. The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the audio system comprises a first wireless speaker package and the device comprises a second wireless speaker package. 
     
     
       10. A device that is adapted to wirelessly communicate with an audio system and is in audio range of the audio system, wherein the audio system is adapted to transduce test sound excitation signals into test sounds that are received by the device, and wherein the test sound excitation signals are generated by and wirelessly transmitted from an audio signal source to the audio system, the device comprising:
 a microphone that is configured to capture the test sounds; and 
 a processor that is configured to determine a time delay by correlating the audio signal source with the capture of the test sounds by the device, wherein the time delay is the time from i) the generation of the test sound excitation signals by the audio signal source, ii) the wireless transmission of the test sound excitation signals from the audio signal source to the audio system where the audio signals are transduced into test sounds, and iii) the capture of the test sounds by the device, wherein the time delay includes an unknown radio delay involved in the wireless transmission of the test sound excitation signals from the audio signal source to the audio system. 
 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to calculate, based on both the captured test sounds and the determined time delay, information that can be used to achieve a desired frequency response from the audio system. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a transmitter that is configured to transmit the calculated information to the audio system. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , wherein the transmitter uses infrared signals to transmit the calculated information to the audio system. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 12 , wherein the transmitter uses WiFi to transmit the calculated information to the audio system. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the calculated information comprises frequency responses corresponding to the captured test sounds. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 10 , comprising a smartphone. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 10 , comprising a wireless speaker package. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the audio system comprises a first wireless speaker package and the device comprises a second wireless speaker package. 
     
     
       19. A system, comprising:
 an audio system that is adapted to transduce test sound excitation signals into test sounds, wherein the test sound excitation signals are generated by and wirelessly transmitted from an audio signal source to the audio system; and 
 a device that is adapted to wirelessly communicate with an audio system and is in audio range of the audio system, wherein the device comprises a microphone that is configured to capture the test sounds, and a processor that is configured to determine a time delay by correlating the audio signal source with the capture of the test sounds by the microphone, wherein the time delay is the time from i) the generation of the test sound excitation signals by the audio signal source, ii) the wireless transmission of the test sound excitation signals from the audio signal source to the audio system where the audio signals are transduced into test sounds, and iii) the capture of the test sounds by the device, wherein the time delay includes an unknown radio delay involved in the wireless transmission of the test sound excitation signals from the audio signal source to the audio system. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the device processor is further configured to calculate, based on both the captured test sounds and the determined time delay, frequency responses corresponding to the captured test sounds.